July 22 will mark the 149th anniversary of the Civil War’s Battle of Atlanta. To commemorate the important event in Atlanta’s history, neighborhoods in the Fifth Atlanta City Council District have teamed up to organize a series of 2013 B*ATL events running Saturday through July 21.

The historic battlefield site is actually in this area where people live and work today. The series of events includes repeats of the annual living history outdoor programs with soldiers and artillery on historic battlefield sites, cemetery remembrance tours, a B*ATL Gala evening at East Lake Golf Club in DeKalb County and new programs this year will offer special history experiences for all ages.

“There is something for everyone,” said Battle of Atlanta Organizer Stephanie Parker and Chairman Henry Bryant.

The consortium of the Georgia Humanities Council, several neighborhood foundations, the Atlanta Preservation Center, the city of Atlanta and historic battlefields and cemeteries are hosting the weeklong series of events — both free and ticketed — in support of restoration of the two historic Battle of Atlanta monuments.

Cemetery tours begin Saturday and include a visit to the antebellum Grant Mansion on St. Paul Avenue in Grant Park Sunday.

Tuesday, Georgia State University history professor Cliff Kuhn will conduct an oral history presentation titled “Civil War to Civil Rights” at the First Iconium Baptist Church on Moreland Avenue.

July 17, author Mark Dunkelman will review his book, “Marching with Sherman,” at the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, the actual site of Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s headquarters during the Battle of Atlanta.

July 18, Northsider Millie Huff Coleman will host a cornbread tasting and food history talk at the DeKalb History Center on East Court Square in Decatur. Coleman is author of “The Frances Virginia Tearoom Cookbook.”

July 19, the B*ATL Gala at East Lake Golf Club will add new music and an oldies dance program.

The morning of July 20, the Doublequick 5K Race will run in the Kirkwood neighborhood.

Then at 10 a.m. begins the all-day Storytelling Festival at the East Atlanta and the Kirkwood libraries, with exciting tales of biscuits, banjos, Southern characters, ghost stories and more for children and adults.

The centerpiece for that day will be the 1 p.m. concert by the 8th Regiment Historic Living History Band across from B*ATL headquarters on Flat Shoals Avenue.

July 21, Confederate Col. Robert Alston’s descendant, Pamela Hain, will discuss her book, “Murder in the State Capitol,” at the Atlanta Cyclorama on Cherokee Avenue in Grant Park.

To educate and attract volunteers to their corps of urban forest lovers, nonprofit Trees Atlanta is instituting professional-grade public training sessions in the coming months.

First is the free Pruning Session 101 at Piedmont Park in Midtown July 20. No prior experience is necessary. Tools will be provided, and the only requirement is that “students” register. Students are encouraged to volunteer with Trees Atlanta community pruning projects.

Pruning is one of the most misunderstood elements of tree care. Proper pruning maximizes the growth and health of trees. Pruning Session 201 will take place July 27 in Atlanta’s Cabbagetown community, and Pruning Session 103 is Aug. 3 at a location to be announced. Registration is required for both of them.

In the meantime, Trees Atlanta is also offering year-round, guided walking tours to show off the ongoing progress of the BeltLine Arboretum, the large-scale revitalization effort in the city of Atlanta. More than 600 trees have been plated thus far in the BeltLine corridor.

It’s also the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment and mobility projects currently under way in the U.S. This sustainable project is providing a network of public parks, multi-use trails and transit by re-using 22 miles of historic railroad corridors circling downtown and connecting 45 local neighborhoods, including some in Buckhead, directly to each other.

Visitors to the free guided walking tours will enjoy fresh air, new city views, fascinating Atlanta history and season of horticulture interest. Expertly trained Trees Atlanta docents will focus on the horticultural collections and interesting facts about the new BeltLine public access. The tour takes about 1.5 hours and begins from the accessible trailhead in the Inman Park neighborhood Fridays and Saturdays.

Christmas may seem a long way off on the calendar, but the big-hearted ladies who carry on the annual tradition of “Christmas in July” to stock Santa’s gift bag for seniors at Meals on Wheels Atlanta will be ready July 23 for a cocktail party hosted by Sheryl Covell of Avenue Catering Concepts at the Ritz-Carlton Residences, 3630 Peachtree Road in Buckhead.

Exemplifying the spirit of Santa, longtime volunteers Jill Berry, Dottie Smith and Jade Sykes Slover are co-chairing the gathering and invite volunteers, friends and the caring public to bring new, inexpensive, unwrapped, senior-friendly items ready to deliver to the nonprofit Meals on Wheels Atlanta participating seniors during the 2013 holiday program.

“Older citizens are probably among the loneliest and least considered group for holiday remembrances. Small blankets, slip-resistant slippers, flashlights, throws, magnifying glasses — any age-appropriate items are welcome. Volunteers will wrap and deliver the donations during December,” Berry said.

Since 1965 Meals on Wheels Atlanta has been providing services designed to support senior independence through meals, shelter, education and community service. Programs include Meals on Wheels for shut-ins, home repair, adult day care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients and Fulton County neighborhood senior centers.

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